Banjo E chord (Double C)E major on the 5-string banjo: 4 4 4 6, and 2 more shapes
Frets, string 4 to string 1: 4 4 4 6 (from the 4th fret)
- String 4 (C): 4th fret, index finger (barre), E
- String 3 (G): 4th fret, index finger (barre), B
- String 2 (C): 4th fret, index finger (barre), E
- String 1 (D): 6th fret, ring finger, G♯
- String 5, the short g: open, G, not in the chord
Sounds: E B E G♯ · E is E, G♯, B (1 · 3 · 5)
Found in: A major (V), B major (IV), B mixolydian (IV), B dorian (IV), E major (I), E mixolydian (I)
The 5th string: the short g rubs against the G♯ in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.
With a capo: on the 4th fret it’s 0 0 0 2 (frets counted from the capo), an open C shape. Spike the 5th string at the 9th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.
Double C tuning: gCGCD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.
The link can’t set the tuning: the app starts in open G. Choose Double C once in its Settings and it remembers.
More E shapes
- 8 9 8 9
8fr - 11 13 11 14
11fr
Other E chords in Double C
Other major chords
E in other tunings
All Double C banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app